Hollywood has concluded a challenging 2025 with impressive ticket sales, primarily driven by the release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and the indie film “Marty Supreme.” Over the four-day holiday weekend, December 25-28, James Cameron’s latest installment in the Avatar franchise achieved an estimated box office of $88 million. This marked a significant boost for the industry, as it recorded its best Christmas Day performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While “Avatar” continued to dominate the box office, the indie film “Marty Supreme,” directed by Josh Safdie, also made headlines. Set in the 1950s and centered around a table tennis drama, the film garnered $27.1 million during the same period, showcasing the potential for independent films to thrive alongside blockbuster releases.
The strong ticket sales come as a welcome relief for Hollywood, which has faced various challenges throughout the year, including shifts in audience preferences and the lingering impacts of the pandemic on cinema attendance. The holiday weekend’s success signals a positive trend, as moviegoers returned to theaters, eager to experience the big screen once again.
As the film industry looks ahead to 2026, the performance of both “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “Marty Supreme” may set the tone for upcoming releases. Industry analysts will closely monitor audience reactions and box office trends to gauge the sustainability of this resurgence in cinema attendance.
